stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio)
Synonyms of stronghold
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
… one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language …—George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican/Democratic stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms of stronghold

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Examples of stronghold in a Sentence

The area is a Republican stronghold. The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. the last stronghold of the endangered deer
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Republican strongholds of the Texas Panhandle and deep East Texas could also help reveal the statewide political picture. — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Alberta is considered a conservative stronghold, but the Liberal Party has led the country for over a decade. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 Trump’s popularity has slipped, even in conservative strongholds such as Kansas. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026 Over the past several decades, however, a growing percentage of people in Latin America, long a Catholic stronghold, have been embracing evangelical churches. — Johanna Bard Richlin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stronghold

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stronghold was in the 15th century

Rhymes for stronghold

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Browse Nearby Words

stronghearted
stronghold
strongish
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Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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